After months of pressure from municipalities, BC Attorney General David Eby has announced his plan to deal with prolific offenders.
In March, the City of Terrace called out the “catch-and-release” style of dealing with repeat offenders.
Since then, numerous municipalities have jumped on board, citing the system’s responsibility for increasing property crimes, particularly in downtown cores.
But Eby says that the province needs to work within their existing authority to come up with creative solutions to the problem.
In coordination with the Urban Mayors’ Caucus, the province has hired two experts to investigate and report on prolific offenders and random violent attacks.
Former Vancouver Police deputy chief Doug LePard, and health researcher Amanda Butler, who specializes in mental health and substance abuse, will conduct the investigation.
On top of identifying trends and suggesting policy and legislative responses, the pair will explore proposals brought up by municipalities.
Some of those proposals include: offering courts real time electronic monitoring of chronic offenders, identifying programs that could be delivered or referred to by first responders or courts, identifying compulsory programs between voluntary complex care housing and involuntary mental health beds, and more.
A written report will be released to the public in 120 days, though the pair have been asked to advise government on possible solutions as the report is being made.
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